Monday, June 9, 2014

Ga. Muslim, Christian Leaders Slam Pamela Geller's Hate AdsThis is a propaganda campaign designed to incite hatred against American Muslims, and has been based on false information, taking things out of context from the Quran. Her SIOA group recently was denied a trademark after an appeals court ruled that the name disparaged Muslims.

'Inventing Terrorists' Study Offers Critical Examination of Preemptive ProsecutionsNearly ninety-five percent of individuals on a Justice Department list of "terrorism and terrorism-related convictions" from 2001-2010 included some elements of preemptive prosecution, according to a study by attorneys which they say is the first to "directly examine and critique preemptive prosecution and its abuses."

NY ManCharged in Firebombing of Mosque Fit to Stand Trial (NY Daily News)Ray Lengend, 43, is accused of hurling a Molotov cocktail at the Imam Al-Khoel Islamic Center in Jamaica, Queens, in December 2011 and carrying out five firebombings using Starbucks Frappuccino bottles filled with gasoline that targeted Muslims. He faces federal hate-crime and arson charges.

Maine Muslim Students' TeamKeeps the Faith, Shows Its Talent (Press Herald)Founded in 2002 by a group of students at the University of Houston, the Muslim Interscholastic Tournament, or MIST, has a dual purpose: cultivate a wide range of talents that some students may not even realize they have, while at the same time deepen their understanding of Islam and the ever-growing Muslim population across the United States.

CAIR-OK to Host Blood Drives with American Red CrossCAIR-OK will be hosting blood drives with the American Red Cross at the Islamic Society of Greater OKC and Islamic Society of Tulsa on June 6 and June 13 respectively. This is a part of our ongoing "Oklahoma Muslims Care" campaign encouraging Oklahoma Muslims to get involved in the community, give back, and in the process help build bridges of understanding, dispel myths, and break down barriers.June 6 event, June 13 event

CAIR-St. Louis: Countering Human Trafficking in Response to Boko HaramThursday May 29th at 8 PM, Iqra Library, 517 Wiedman Road, Ballwin MO 63011CAIR-St. Louis is partnering with the Covering House to learn about human trafficking in our city and what St. Louis Muslims can do to counter this troubling trend.

Tonight: Urge Congress to Support Amendment Banning Government Profiling

Take action tonight, May 29, and stand with CAIR in urging your elected representative to support the Quad Caucus' amendment to prevent discriminatory profiling added to H.R. 4660, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2015.

The Quad Caucus amendment is expected to be offered early this evening by Congressman Keith Ellison and "uses existing law to prevent the Department of Justice, FBI, and local law enforcement that receive federal funding from engaging in profiling based on race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, and sexual orientation."

With little time to spare, the House is set to vote on this amendment tonight.

Not only is profiling morally wrong, it is an unconstitutional violation of the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments. Profiling hinders counterterrorism efforts and diverts precious law enforcement resources away from investigations of individuals who have been linked to terrorist activity by specific and credible evidence.

Again, please take action now and support the Quad Caucus' amendment to prevent discriminatory profiling added to H.R. 4660.

Rabbi Slams Pamela Geller's Hate Ads: An Antidote for IslamophobiaNow, Geller has posted similarly odious messages on D.C. buses. With that move, she has emerged above ground -- where unfortunately, she has revealed how low she can go, using images of Hitler in painfully irresponsible ways. The good news is that Geller plummets to this level virtually alone. I am writing to remind Geller and those she has hurt that these words do not speak for the vast, vast majority of the Jewish community.

CAIR Good News Alert: House Adopts Anti-Profiling AmendmentLast night the U.S. House of Representatives adopted an amendment introduced by Congressman Keith Ellison to prevent discriminatory profiling by federal and state law enforcement. Supported by a CAIR action alert and backed by the Quad Caucus, the House adopted the amendment and passed the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2015.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR Seeks Meeting with FX on Possible Stereotypes in 'Tyrant'

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/30/14) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said it has asked the Fox subsidiary FX Networks for a meeting to discuss community concerns aboutpotential Islamophobic stereotyping in the upcoming series "Tyrant" due to air June 24.

According to the network, "Tyrant tells the story of an unassuming American family drawn into the workings of a turbulent Middle Eastern nation."

"Because of these [community] concerns, we respectfully request an opportunity to view and comment on the series content prior to its air date. We also request a meeting at your convenience between FX representatives and leaders of the American Muslim community to discuss ways in which we can help mitigate the possible negative impact of this series on the lives of ordinary American Muslims...

"We have no desire to inhibit the creative process or your right to produce any entertainment content you wish. However, it is our duty to defend the safety of the American Muslim community and help ensure the accurate portrayal of Muslims and Islam."

The letter also noted that CAIR has challenged actual and potential anti-Muslim stereotypes in productions such as ABC Family network's "Alice in Arabia," "Executive Decision," "24," "The Siege," "True Lies," "Rules of Engagement," "Obsession," "The Third Jihad," "Jihad in America," and "The Sum of All Fears."

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

Hadith of the Day: Teach and Make Things Easy The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God did not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He sent me to teach and make things easy." Sahih Muslim

CAIR: MA Pastor Welcomes Receipt of QuranA few days after sharing this story with my congregation, an unexpected package arrived by mail. It seemed to many of us to be a providential coincidence. Inside the large cardboard box, we found a copy of the Koran, sent to us by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a group that is dedicated to overcoming many of the current misconceptions about Islam. The Koran was mailed as a gift, part of their educational efforts.

CAIR:Muslim Activists Walk in Dallas to Raise Awareness (DM News)Walk Against Islamophobia was hosted by the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and a group of young Muslim activists called Enlightened Generations. . .CAIR's Alia Salem said she was pleased by the diversity among groups that chose to take part Saturday. “We want to promote activism in our youth, and so I am very happy and excited about the turnout,” she said.

CAIR: Pamela Geller's Anti-Islam Ads Just the Latest Hate Targeting Minorities“Campaigns like this have been launched against the Jewish community, the Italian community, the Japanse community, the African American community for centuries, and [AFDI] is just the latest hateful social group to try and alienate others,” said Nihad Awad, CAIR’s executive director. “When she spreads false information we see it is important to reset the record and provide an opportunity for the public to learn about Islam.”

Islamophobic LegislationFocused on a Nonexistent Issue in FloridaThe "Application of American Laws for American Courts" bill sought to fix problems that don't exist. The sponsor of the bill in the Legislature, Sen. Alan Hays, couldn't even cite one case that the bill would rectify in the state of Florida.

CAIR-MN:Free Legal Clinic Starts at Rondo Library (Pioneer Press)The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is beginning a monthly free legal clinic for people seeking advice on civil rights, housing, family law, immigration and employment. . .The second will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. June 25 at the library.

CAIR-CA Offers Condolences on Death of Japanese American Civil Rights Leader Yuri Kochiyama

(ANAHEIM, CA, 6/2/14) -- The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) today offered condolences to the Japanese American community on the loss of Yuri Kochiyama, a prominent civil rights leader who died yesterday in Berkeley, Calif. at the age of 93.

Kochiyama, the daughter of Japanese immigrants, was known for her civil rights activism and for her work on the 1988 Civil Rights Act, which granted reparations and a formal apology from the U.S. government to Japanese American WWII internees. She also worked to advance civil rights causes impacting other minority groups, including African-Americans, Latinos and Native-Americans.

"We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Yuri Kochiyama. Her tireless dedication to civil rights helped inspire generations of activists, including within the American Muslim community.

"She will be fondly remembered by all those of us who continue to defend civil liberties and promote justice."

CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America's largest civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

Hadith of the Day: Seek God's Guidance, Not His Punishment Once when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was asked to seek God's punishment for a particular tribe called the Thaqif, he instead said: "O God, give guidance to Thaqif." Al-Tirmidhi

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/3/14) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said it is urging Virginia prosecutors to enhance the charges being brought against a Woodbridge, Va., man who allegedly carried out a bias-motivated assault on a Muslim commuter.

The Muslim victim reported to CAIR that the alleged assault took place May 20 on a VRE commuter train in Virginia. According to the victim, a government employee, the alleged assailant became enraged and shouted "speak f**king English" when he heard the victim speaking on a cell phone in his native Bengali.

During the incident, the alleged attacker reportedly struck the Muslim commuter in the head, threatened to throw him from the train and told a conductor that the victim might have a bomb.

Fairfax County Police Department (Case Number 20141410002) arrested the alleged attacker and charged him with assault and battery as a hate crime under Virginia statute 18.2-57.

That statute states: "Any person who commits a simple assault or assault and battery is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, and if the person intentionally selects the person against whom a simple assault is committed because of his race, religious conviction, color or national origin, the penalty upon conviction shall include a term of confinement of at least six months, 30 days of which shall be a mandatory minimum term of confinement."

The alleged perpetrator, who was released on his own recognizance, is scheduled to appear in Fairfax Country General District Court (Case Number GC14102817-00) on July 11, 2014.

"We urge prosecutors to consider the seriousness of this alleged assault in determining what additional or increased charges may be brought to bear to help deter others who may consider similar apparently bias-motivated attacks," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

Hadith of the Day: Put Love in the Hearts of PeopleWhen the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) entered a new town, he would say: "O God. . .put our love in the hearts of its people and put the love of its righteous people in our hearts." Fiqh-us-Sunnah

Video:CAIR Seeks Tougher Charges for Bias Attack on VA. Muslim CommuterFairfax County police charged Sullivan with misdemeanor assault and battery, as a hate crime. However, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says it should be considered a more serious crime. The director of CAIR said he hopes prosecutors look to increase the charges to help deter others who may consider similar bias-motivated assaults in the future.

Hate Attackon NY Muslim Taxi Driver (NY Daily News)A hate-filled taxi passenger smashed a Pakistani cabbie in the face with a skateboard after asking the driver his nationality, the driver said Tuesday.

CAIR:Anti-Islam Talk from Conservatives (Daily Beast)The Director of the CAIR Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia Corey Saylor wrote a letter to the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) calling into question their continued support of events where speakers attack Islam and Muslim women: "CAIR researchers have found a troubling trend of anti-Muslim sentiment in materials on your organization's website and in activities of NFRW clubs."

CAIR-Texas:Keller School Board to Address Anti-Muslim CommentsSchool board members will meet Monday to explore options for the possible removal of Trustee Jo Lynn Haussmann, who recently made offensive comments on her Facebook page. The Keller district posted the meeting announcement Tuesday, the same day the North Texas Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations held a news conference in Dallas calling for Haussmann to resign because of her "disparaging and Islamophobic" comments.

MN:Examining Muslim Culture in the MediaAs a McNair Scholar, she spent three months intensively researching the portrayal of Muslims in local media outlets. Her finding: Islam and Muslim, along with Somali, are commonly connected to crime in article searches, especially terroristic crimes.

American Jailed in EgyptAppeals to Obama for Help (NY Times)In an emotional video message recently smuggled out of a Cairo prison, Mohamed Soltan, an Egyptian-American who was arrested last year by Egypt's military-backed government, appealed to President Obama for help.

CAIR: Turmoil on 'Tyrant' -The Dramatic Backstory of FX's Middle East EpicAlthough it's set in a fictional Middle Eastern country, Abbudin, all those involved recognize how critical it is to accurately portray the realities of the region. Sensitivities are such that ABC Family recently decided to scrap production on Alice in Arabia, another Middle East-themed drama, after outcry from the Council on American-Islamic Relations over "potential stereotyping" on the show. And on May 30, the same advocacy group put out a press release in which it requested a meeting with FX executives to "discuss community concerns about potential Islamophobic stereotyping" on Tyrant.

CAIR Joins Other Civil Rights Groups in Withdrawing Support for House Version of USA FREEDOM ActAmended act includes 'misleading and ambiguous loophole' requiring companies to provide personal records to government

Turning to the Senate, CAIR joins many other national civil liberties, human rights and public interest organizations in a letter to leadership and members of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in calling for an end to unconstitutional government spying programs by asking that they produce legislation which meaningfully restores privacy rights.

Introduced by House Terrorism Subcommittee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) in October 2013, the USA FREEDOM Act (H.R. 3361) was supposed to be Congress' first significant action toward prohibiting the NSA's bulk collection of American's telephone and internet records.

Instead, on May 22 the House passed a less than compressive, significantly weakened version of the bill that some of its original cosponsors including Congressmen Mike Honda (D-CA) and Justin Amash (R-MI) voted against. Passing the House by a 303-121 margin, the bill's new language bans indiscriminate bulk collection but codifies large scale domestic spying practices.

The newly-adopted version of the USA Freedom Act extends by two years the originally proposed sunset of Section 215 of the Patriot Act from June 2015 to 2017.

Under Section 215, the NSA and FBI have been able to use the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) to compel the nation's phone carriers and businesses like Google, Yahoo!, Facebook, Microsoft (Hotmail, etc.), Apple, PalTalk, YouTube, Skype and AOL to turn over the records of millions of Americans, for national security purposes.

The original version of the USA Freedom Act proposed to limit any government request under Section 215 to the records of foreign powers or agents of foreign powers or specific individuals in close contact with such suspected agents and entities.

The amended act now includes a misleading and ambiguous loophole supported by the nation's intelligence community and the Administration, which permits the government to seek an FISC order requiring telephone and internet companies to provide personal records that match "specific selection terms."

Such court orders could lead to private businesses turning over large quantities of phone records from certain area codes, ZIP codes, and regions of the U.S. It could also be interpreted to permit collection from certain electronic devices, email hosts or other internet records that contain "specific" search "terms."

Since the original bill's introduction, CAIR strongly supported the act as a means to restoring the privacy rights of all citizens. However, CAIR can no longer support the act as adopted by the House in its watered down state.

Looking forward, CAIR urges Congress to adopt comprehensive domestic spying reform measures like the Surveillance State Repeal Act (H.R.2818) introduced by Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) which would repeal the USA Freedom Act and FISA Amendments Act of 2008. Repealing these two acts would put an immediate end to bulk collection and require the government to have probable cause before obtaining the records of U.S. persons.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

In the last decade, Horowitz has become a respected elder of a growing movement of hawkish neoconservatives, conspiracy theorists and former federal officials united in their twisted fears that Islam is on the march -- a movement he describes in Orwellian terms as a "counterjihad."

Through his David Horowitz Freedom Center, a wealthy nonprofit based in Sherman Oaks, Calif., he has financed leading Islamophobes driving public opinion and attacked universities as leftist "indoctrination" programs. He leads several conservative publications, all dedicated to tenaciously defending Israel and viciously attacking Islam as a religion of "hate, violence and racism."

A report from the liberal think tank Center for American Progress, "Fear, Inc.," exposed Horowitz as a prominent member of a "small network [that] produces talking points and messages relied upon and repeated by every segment of this interconnected network of money, grassroots leaders, media talking heads, and elected officials." The report's author, Wajahat Ali, chastised Horowitz as a self-serving and toxic presence in a field of anti-Muslim pundits.

Virulent Muslim-basher Robert Spencer, director of the website Jihad Watch, is on his nonprofit's payroll, and Horowitz's online FrontPage Magazine publishes the work of Daniel Greenfield and Daniel Pipes, both of whom add to right-wing fears that Muslims are infiltrating the West. Horowitz also works closely withPamela Geller, collecting money for her anti-Muslim hate group, Stop Islamization of America.

CAIR receives numerous calls and reports on the issue of being wrongfully placed on the no-fly list, but many people do not even know how to report it. That is why having statistics on this issue is near impossible -- no one knows who is on the list, meaning you can be on the list without knowing it until you try to board a plane.

"Her tireless dedication to civil rights helped inspire generations of activists, including within the American Muslim community," the California chapter of CAIR. "She will be fondly remembered by all those of us who continue to defend civil liberties and promote justice."

If the authorities believe Matanov was in any way involved in the bombings, these charges might make sense. But they aren't saying that -- not even by implication. Otherwise, this is just the kind of overly aggressive prosecution that gives the wrong impression of America's commitment to freedom, civil liberties, and proportionate justice.